Broken

• Chapter 92 •

I feel a rush of panic surging through my body as I start walking again. I hope he doesn't know that I know he's following me. I find my legs walking in another direction. The last thing I want is for him to know where I live.

I want you to tell me if you ever see him again, okay?

Ashton's voice rings in my ears, and I dial his number with a shaky hand, putting the phone to my ear.

"Hey."

"Ashton. T-that guy, he's following me. He's following me and I don't know what the fuck to do," I whisper with a trembling voice.

There's a pause, I hear him suck in a sharp breath. "Where are you? Does he know you know?" I hear Ashton shuffling around.

I blink the tears back into my eyes. My throat is throbbing, I feel like I'm going to faint.

"No, he doesn't know. I'm a block away from my house, but I'm walking the other way. Towards yours."

"Okay. I want you to relax, okay? Keep walking as much as you can towards my house, we don't live that far apart. Stay on the main road. I'm on my way right now," I hear his car's engine start, and I relax just a little.

Ashton's on his way.

"Please stay on the line," I whisper.

"I wouldn't hang up if my life depended on it."

My heart sinks a bit. "Pretend you're talking normally. Ask me about my date."

I scrunch my face up, "How was your date?"

"Pretty great. She had cherry flavored nips."

I snort, "You're vile."

I can feel his smile from the other end of the line, "Where are you now?"

"Um, I—"

Someone bumps into me and my phone falls, along with my heart. I go to pick it up, but it's kicked away from me and across the street. I look up in horror as Hassan smirks down at me.

My heart bursts out of my chest, and I don't dare stay where I am. I kick him in the balls and start sprinting. This is what I get for not respecting my parents and going out while I'm grounded!

Now, this guy is going to make a human jacket out of my skin and they'll find the rest of my decomposed body months later in a goddamn ditch! I blow out a distressed breath, completely on the verge of tears now.

"Clementine Charmant."

My entire body freezes at his voice. Oh. My. God. Oh, my God. HE'S RIGHT BEHIND ME.

He knows me. He knows my name, how can that be? He knows who I am... Oh my fucking God. He must work for Derek. Panic fills every fiber in me. If this guy works for Derek, then Derek knows where I am. And I am not safe anymore.

I'm fucked.

I run. I don't turn around. I don't retort. I run. He's hot on my heel, I hear him blow out a laugh, "Relax. I won't hurt you, I have a message."

My knees buckle and I fall on the cement. I start bleeding, and the tears are officially streaming down my face. My veins turn to ice, and I'm having trouble breathing. I can't be weak. I have to fight back, what's wrong with me? I can't think anymore. My mind is fuzzy, the world is blurry.

"Get the fuck away from me," I manage to spurt confidently, but I can't look at him.

"No Ashton to save you this time, huh?"

My heart falls, how does he know his name?

"Him and I go way back, you know. Can't believe that bastard beat me up. Didn't know he had a girlfriend, much less that she was Clementine Charmant."